Notices |
Hello!
Either you have not registered on this site yet, or you are registered but have not logged in. In either case, you will not be able to use the full functionality of this site until you have registered, and then logged in after your registration has been approved.
Registration is FREE, so please register so you can participate instead of remaining a lurker....
Please note that the information requested during registration will be used to determine your legitimacy as a participant of this site. As such, any information you provide that is determined to be false, inaccurate, misleading, or highly suspicious will result in your registration being rejected. This is designed to try to discourage as much as possible those spammers and scammers that tend to plague sites of this nature, to the detriment of all the legitimate members trying to enjoy the features this site provides for them.
Of particular importance is the REQUIREMENT that you provide your REAL full name upon registering. Sorry, but this is not like other sites where anonymity is more the rule.
Also your TRUE location is important. If the location you enter in your profile field does not match the location of your registration IP address, then your registration will be rejected. As such, I strongly urge registrants to avoid using a VPN service to register, as they are often used by spammers and scammers, and as such will be blocked when discovered when auditing new registrations.
Sorry about all these hoops to jump through, but I am quite serious about blocking spammers and scammers at the gate on this site and am doing the very best that I can to that effect. Trust me, I would rather be doing more interesting things with my time, and wouldn't be making this effort if I didn't think it was worthwhile.
|
Feed, Caging, Supplies & Services Discussions concerning the feeding requirements of any of our critters, the cages they need to live in while in our care, and all of the supplies and services needed to do this right. |
08-15-2007, 01:16 AM
|
#1
|
|
Trouble with Helix
This is my 3rd Helix over the last year... They all keep reading err e4 I have replaced the temp. censer in the first 2... Is this a normal thing with them???
Travis
|
|
|
08-15-2007, 05:22 AM
|
#2
|
|
This isn't really a BOI thread - have you contacted Helix about the problem? If not, that should be your first step. What is the warranty?
|
|
|
08-15-2007, 08:18 AM
|
#3
|
|
Contact Helix, I am sure they can determine the problem. If you are getting power spikes/surges on that breaker I think that it can effect thermostats. ie. if you have a room air conditioner etc. on that breaker it may cause damage.
|
|
|
08-15-2007, 09:03 AM
|
#4
|
|
I had the same exact problem with a helix brand new out of the box - I sent it in for them to look at it, and they sent it back with a clean bill of health - Hooked it back up and same thing.
I too was told it was power spike/surges that were triggering it - I sold it to someone else, and they have had no problems with it - It's a good unit, however overly sensitive - perhaps because of the area I live in.
You may have to just switch over to a different brand such as Spyder Robotics - I have a few Herpstats in the same room and on the same circuit as I did the Helix, and they give me no problems.
|
|
|
08-15-2007, 10:37 AM
|
#5
|
|
Another possibility is that you have the unit too close to an unshielded florescent starter. I had a similar problem whenever the light units I had on my Vision cages turned on.
I called Helix and they said they had a fix for it, and new units should not have the problem.
Neil
|
|
|
08-16-2007, 02:20 AM
|
#6
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike P.
I had the same exact problem with a helix brand new out of the box - I sent it in for them to look at it, and they sent it back with a clean bill of health - Hooked it back up and same thing.
I too was told it was power spike/surges that were triggering it - I sold it to someone else, and they have had no problems with it - It's a good unit, however overly sensitive - perhaps because of the area I live in.
You may have to just switch over to a different brand such as Spyder Robotics - I have a few Herpstats in the same room and on the same circuit as I did the Helix, and they give me no problems.
|
I have only Helix DBS-1000's, because they work great. However, I experimented with switching the entire house to the back-up generator. The Helixes would produce that error code while trying to stay running, but could not keep working on generator power.
My electrician explained to me that the generator produces a fluctuating voltage where very sensitive electronics will not work. He said one solution would be to get a voltage regulator which is included in the higher end UPS backup systems.
I would be interested in heating from anyone which thermostats will continue working on a generator or fluctuating voltage.
|
|
|
08-16-2007, 11:22 PM
|
#7
|
|
Thankx everyone for the info... I think that is what is happing with the spike's I will just look around for another stat...
Travis
|
|
|
08-21-2007, 04:04 PM
|
#8
|
|
The question is whether the generator produces a true sine wave or a modified sine wave. If its producing a true sine wave (also known as pure sine wave) then even if the voltage is fluctuating our Herpstats should work fine. If it is a modfied sine wave like most 12-120vac inverters then you can not use any proportional thermstat. Modified sinewaves alot of time never hit zero volts like in true ac and sometimes even if they do then its too short of time at zero volts. The result is the triac controlling the heating device turns on but never off and kept in this stuck state.
Any relay based thermostat such as Johnson Controls or Ranco should work whether its a true or modified sinewave. The relay doesn't care what the voltage pattern is like going through it as it is just a mechanical switch.
Hope that helps!
Dion Brewington
Owner, Spyder Robotics
|
|
|
08-21-2007, 08:50 PM
|
#9
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by spyderrobotics
The question is whether the generator produces a true sine wave or a modified sine wave. If its producing a true sine wave (also known as pure sine wave) then even if the voltage is fluctuating our Herpstats should work fine. If it is a modfied sine wave like most 12-120vac inverters then you can not use any proportional thermstat. Modified sinewaves alot of time never hit zero volts like in true ac and sometimes even if they do then its too short of time at zero volts. The result is the triac controlling the heating device turns on but never off and kept in this stuck state.
Any relay based thermostat such as Johnson Controls or Ranco should work whether its a true or modified sinewave. The relay doesn't care what the voltage pattern is like going through it as it is just a mechanical switch.
Hope that helps!
Dion Brewington
Owner, Spyder Robotics
|
Dion,
I think so. I'll have to check several dictionaries first. Lol.
|
|
|
08-21-2007, 11:56 PM
|
#10
|
|
Thank you for the kind advice Spyder Robotics. I will get at least one of the simpler thermostats as an emergency backup for the incubators when on generator power.
Would it do Travis any good to complain to his power company about the sub-standard voltage in his house? Certainly he should be able to run any electronics he wants.
|
|
|
Join
now to reply to this thread or open new ones
for your questions & comments! FaunaClassifieds.com
is the largest online community about Reptile
& Amphibians, Snakes, Lizards and number one
classifieds service with thousands of ads to look
for. Registration is open to everyone and FREE.
Click Here to Register!
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
All times are GMT -4. The time now is 05:30 AM.
|
|